Originally posted by NinerBuff:I believe OL eligible player is an extra Tackle lining up on the line of scrimmage (like a TE), needing to report to the ref before the play. By taking the TE out of the play, the defense can get fooled into thinking run and you beat him quick and high to one of the best handed guy on the O-line. I believe.

Originally posted by NinerBuff:I believe OL eligible player is an extra Tackle lining up on the line of scrimmage (like a TE), needing to report to the ref before the play. By taking the TE out of the play, the defense can get fooled into thinking run and you beat him quick and high to one of the best handed guy on the O-line. I believe.

Thanks.

It seems like the past few years there's been plays by various teams adding OL eligable plays to the mix. In certain situations if a team doesn't have the ability to get their first option, it seems like a useful way to add the element of surprise during critical times of some games.

If a team is in the middle of a drive in which they need to maintain possession of the ball to secure a win opposed to just running the clock down, it seems like it could be an option that would bring a relative high percentage of success to preserve a win.
You never see it anywhere else on the field usually except for goaline situations so I was just wondering if that was by rule.

Originally posted by NinerBuff:I believe OL eligible player is an extra Tackle lining up on the line of scrimmage (like a TE), needing to report to the ref before the play. By taking the TE out of the play, the defense can get fooled into thinking run and you beat him quick and high to one of the best handed guy on the O-line. I believe.

Yeah you're right. But usually the TE is still on the field, just a step off the line - like in a goal line set.

I think you are missing this (correct me if I am wrong) but if a tackle reports eligible and stays in his normal position someone on the other side becomes ineligible. The goalline plays you are thinking of is probably the patriots. Where there guy lines up as a TE not a tackle.

Originally posted by jdt84_2:I think you are missing this (correct me if I am wrong) but if a tackle reports eligible and stays in his normal position someone on the other side becomes ineligible. The goalline plays you are thinking of is probably the patriots. Where there guy lines up as a TE not a tackle.

Most often I've seen the trick of the play being the TE stepping back a pace to uncover the T, making him eligible. The TE becomes a WR more or less. It also works with an unbalanced line. Not sure the opposite side becomes ineligible.

One thing I will be looking at very closely during the first two or three series is the play of our offensive line. Folks -- if you're going to have a good offense in the NFL -- you start with a great line. And Harbaugh might be lucky in that he might have inheirited a VERY good offensive line (the way Walsh did).

It's no secret to most fans that we've been rebuilding the line for the past few seasons. While I was unhappy to see Bass slip away, we've still got the likes of Staley, Iupati, Rachal and Davis. This will be the second full season for both Iupati and Davis, and those are the two I will be watching the closest. Davis struggled to start out last season but seemed to find a firm footing in his last six to seven games. He showed flashes that he may be the long term answer at right tackle. Iupati meanwhile, showed that he's an absolute beast. He could be the new Larry Allen.

I say, could be.

If Alex is ever going to develop into a servicable QB. If Gore is ever going to return to form. If VD is ever going to be allowed the chance to roam downfield, it all depends upon the play of our offensive line. Short and simple: Good teams have good lines. Bad teams have bad lines.

We've invested heavily in this line. Both Staley and Davis are 1st round picks. Iupati we picked up in the 2nd. If I'm not mistaken, I believe Rachal was a 2nd or 3rd round choice. There aren't many journeyman types holding down spots on this line. All of them are draft pick studs.

If the 49ers improve offensively? It all starts up front. I know it's not sexy. It's the most overlooked area of football. But stars can't be stars unless they've got road grader grunts paving the way.

Actually Iupati was a 1st rounder as well. That gives them 3 1st round draft picks on the o line. There really aren't any credible excuses for them not to be an above average o line. Chilo is the weak link imo. I actually believe if Davis has developed like he should that this o line should be a strong point.

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